Combined track and switch mechanism.



M. S. MCMEEKEN. COMBINED TRACK AND SWITCHMECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.24, 191B- Patented 11m. 11,1919.

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5114012 mio'c 4 afiptncq M. amen/1mm. COMBINED [BACK AND SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. I918.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

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. ag mm i MILO SIMPSON McMEEKEN, or MANSFIELD, OHIO.

columnar TRACK AND SWITCH MECHANISM.

-T all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known .that I, MILO SIMPsoN Mo invented certain new-and useful'Improvements in Combined Tracks and Switch- Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined track and switch mechanism for use in the mow of a barn or the like.

- contents of the conveyer, carrier or other It is well known to those who are familiar with piling, distributing andstoring awaygrain, hay and other products or material' in the mows of a barn or thelike that difiiculties are encountered in distributing said products and material in the mow especially to deposit same equally in the portions of the mow that are located on either side or remotefrom the center of the mow of the barn or the like.

The conventional means of conveying and distributing and storing away hay, grain and the like in a mow consists of a track and a car with means of carrying a conveyer. truck. The track-is, ordinarily attached to the roo'fof the barn at thecenter thereof, and when the conveyer is emptied of its contents or hay grapple released, the .hay, grain and otherproducts or material are deposited in a pile in the center of the mow only, although it should be distributed equally on each side of the mow to obtain the full capacity of the mow. This operation involves considerable extra labor, time and difliculty in distributing same by hand manipulation.

The primary object of the present invention consists 1n overcoming the above described objections by applying a switch mechanism to the main track in such a manner as to switch the conveyer truck from A' further object isto provide means of controlling the truck in its travel. on -the ,switch' track at the will of the operator, and of forcing the truck to travel on either switch at the will of the operator so that the Specification of Letters Patent.

of a receptacle can be emptied in the center or on either side ofthe mow and equally distributed thereon.

Further objects are to provide means of hinging a member to a section of the main track and supporting same in such a manner as to permit the truck to be switched and directed to travel'over a switch track located on either side of the mow and controlling same through the medium of cables or the like whichcan be manipulated at a point remote from the truck, carrier, grapple or other receptacle, and further to provide means of attaching a cable or the like to the truck to control thetravel of the truck no matter whether it is being operated for distributing the hay, grain and the like .in the mow'or being returned to its normal position preparatory to reloading the carrier, grapple or other receptacle. 7

Further ebjects consist in providing means for gu ding the cable for a direct pull on the truclfand maintaining the cable in contact with the pulley or the guiding means, and further to provide a brake mechanism for regulating and controlling the travel of the truck through the medium of a cable which is also provided with means for winding the cable automatically and returning the truck to its normal position for reloading the conveyor, grapple or other receptacle.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919. Application filed September 24. 1918. Serial N o. 255,499.

These and other objects are illustrated by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view of theinvention showlng its application to the frame work barn.

Fig. 2 is a: side elevation of Fig. 11 Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the rollers of the cable guiding means.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing portions of-themain track spaced apart, a switch track member pivotally connected to one portion of the main track,'means for carrying the weight of the switch member, a locking means, and fragments of two conventional switches located on each side of the main track.

Fig. 6 is a side elevationof Fig. 5. In describing the construction, assembly and installation of the invention portions of a main track which are indicated by referance numerals 1 and 2 are spaced apart leaving a predetermined gap 3 between the alined ends of each portion as clearly shown in Fig. The main track is preferably constructed of two ai'ig'le irons 4- and 5 which are supported in spaced relation to eaclr other as shown at 6. The track is suspended and supported from the roof of a barn or the like by the heads 7 of the-bolts 7 which pass between the angle irons through the space (3 and are connected to the hangers 8. The hangers 8 can be fastoned to the roof or frame-work of the barnin any conventional manner preferably at the points and in the manner shown.

A switch track member 9 corresponding and coinciding with the main track portion '2 is pivoted or the main track by a pin 10. The switch track member made of suchsize, form and dimensions as tobridge the gap 3 and aline'with the portions 1 and ot the main track. Switch tracks 11 and 12 are arranged and located at predetermined points on each side of the main track portion 1 and preferably hung from the roof of the barn (to correspond with the pitch thereof) by the hangers S; The ends of the switch tracks 11 and 12 which lie and are supported adjacent to, but in spaced side rela-' tion to portion 1 of the main track, are alined with the end of portion 1 and preferably curved or bent so as to position the switch tracks substantially at right angles with the main: track extending laterally from each side of the niain track across the pin 10 without excessive friction on a plane and to aline with either of the switches or the main track a hanger 13 is fastened to the freeend of the switch memher and provided with a bifurcated end 14.

A pin 15 is secured to the bifurcated portions adjacent to its extremity and a roller 16 journaled thereon so as to leave a space (a) beneath the roller to receive a track 17 upon which the roller 16 is adapted to travel and supportthe free end portion of the switch memberr In order to further reduce the friction incident to swinging the switch member '9 upon its pivot if desired an auxiliary hanger 18 can be utilized. one end being pivotally attached to a beani'or roof of the barn and the opposite end formed L shape and apertured to receive the projecting end of a bolt 19 provided with anut 20 and. a head 21 which assist in support ing the switch member 9. A plate 22 can i also be used to provide a base for the pivoted end of the switch member to swing upon. The plate 22, hanger 13 and auxiliary hanger 18 can be dispensed with if desired without'materially afl'ecting the operation of the switch'member th e elements hinged to the portion 2 ofof either switch and at-the same time raeepee the efficiency of and the free endof each is passed through (in opposite directions) a series of screw eves 25 to any convenient point desired for manipulation by the operator. A carrier truck 26 is mounted to travel on the main track and a hay grapple 27 or other carrier or receptacle is secured thereto in any well known manner. A cable drum 28 is mounted on a shaft 29, which in tu-rnis journalcd in brackets 30 secured to the barn or other frame-works preferably at a. point adjacent to the end 6 of the main track. One end of a cable 31 is wound upon and around the drum the number of times desired at one end of the drum be tween the collars 3'2 and 33. The cable 31 is then attached to a pin 34: which is secured to the truck 26; thence it is passed through the screw eye 35 looped and carried back parallel with the portion attached to the drum and then passed through the screw eye 36.ns clearly shown in Fig. 1. In order to provide means of exerting substantially a direct pull upon the truck 26 when it is diverted from the main track to travel on either of the switch tracks guiding pulleysor rollers 37 are provided and journaled upon a shaft 37. The rollers are spaced apartin predetermined positions. The shaft 37' is journaled in bearings formed in the brackets 38 and 39. The rollers are arranged and located so as to engage and direct the transmission of that portion of the cable 31 that is required to permit the truck to travel to the terminal provide for substantially a direct pull upon the truck (see Fig. 1 dotted lines-showing able). The rollers 37 are preferably provided with taperedfianges 40 which serve to support and maintain the-cable and direct it to and keep 1t from dropping away from the 'ollers.

To furt er provide against the liability of the cable (Wltenit is more or less slack) from tacting with the periphery of the flange 40 thereby making a continuous path to direct the *able-in contact with the roller and suport same; As the roller and arm proect in close proximity to the truck when it is traveling to the switch terminals, profalling or dropping away from the guiding if the roller 43 or arm encounters an obstruction (such as-conta'cting with the load of the grapple, carrier or the like). To ac- .complish this an L shaped arm 44 is provided on the shaft 37 and connected to a coil spring 45 which exerts itstension to direction when maintain the arm 42 in a predetermined position, but allows the arm to yield in either subjected to pressure or obstruction.

The, operation of the switch mechanism is as follows: Vhen the truck is in its normal position as shown in Figs.'1 and 2 the .hay grapple, carrier or other receptacle is lo-ad-' ed in the ordinary manner. The operator grasps the free end of the cable 31 and pulls same, the truck being attached to the cable it swltches used on either or both sides of the is-forced to travel on the main track to its terminal provided it is not switched or clirected to either of the switch tracks by the manipulation of the switch member 9. If,

the operator desires to divert the travel of the truck from the main track to one of the switch tracks prior to the truck reaching in its travel the pivoted end of the switch member, the operator pulls either of the cables 23 or .24 according to the particular switch he desires the truck to travel upon and the truck is then diverted to travel on the switch track desired.

' When the truck reaches and is drawn,

slightly over the pivoted end of the switch member the gravity or weight of the truck forces it to travel upon 'and over the switch under normal conditions until t reaches 1ts terminal. In order to securely maintain the switch member in alinement with the main track or either of the switch tracks, a bell crank locking member 46 is fastened between the parts of the switch member upon a pin 47, having one end of the locking member overlapping the abutting end of the main track and adapted to be received in the space 6 between the parts of the main of windingthe cables and 48 on the.

drum 28 in opposite direction-is to permit one cable to wind up on the drum as the other is being unwound. A weight 50 is fasftened to the free end of the cable 48' and when the carrier which is secured to the truck is emptied of its contents or the grapple released the gravity of the weight 550 rotatcs the drum 2 tak g p l sla k in the perecl base.

cable 31 and winding it upon thedrum 28 and at the same time exerting power to return the truck to its normal position 011 the main track. WVhen the truck is traveling on any portion of the switch tracks and it is desired to hold or manipulate it atv a predetermined point on the switch track the operator manipulates the cablev 51 (which .is attached to a friction brake 52 of an ordinary type) to'pre 'ent the drum 28 from ro-- tating or to permit same to rotate as desired, thereby holding'the truck at a predotermined point of its travel on either switch or main track as desired or to permit it to travel to another position on the switch track. It'will be apparent that a plurality of switch members can be applied to the main track if desired and one or more main track without deviating from the principle of-the invention; hence the invention is not intended to be confined or limited to the construction, form or assembly shown in the drawing.

It will be noted that the entire apparatus can be operated from one point by one man thereby saving in man power and efficiency in operation.

.I claim 1. A trackway having a main track section, branch track sections, a switch for connecting the main track section to any one of the branch track sections, said switch being pivotally connected to the main track section, a hanger for the pivoted end of the switch comprising a portion pivotally connected to a support, and a hanger for the free end of the switch including a trackbar secured 'to a support, and a hanger.

bar connected to the switch and adapted to travel on said track-bar.

2. A trackway having divergent portions, a switch for connecting either of said portions with the main trackway, a body for travel on the, trackway, cable means to impart movement to sa-idbody, and guides for the cable on said divergent track portions,

said guides comprising pulley sections having tape'red enlarged base portions to keep the cable in cooperation. with the pulleys when. not under tension.

. 3. A trackway having. switch portions, a body for travel on the trackway, cable means to impart movement to said body, guide pulleys having widened tapered bases, and an arm mounted for rotation on the pulley center and extended beyond the edge of and in line with the surface of the ta 4. A trackway having switch portions, a

body for travel on said trackway, cable arm being yieldingly held in a predetermined relation to the pulley.

5. A trackway having switch portions, a body for travel on said trackway, cable means to impart movement to the body, guiding means for the cable including guide pulleys having widened bases, and arms mounted for swinging movement in the plane of the pulley bases, and springs for returning the arms to normal positions following their swinging movement.

6. A trackwzrv having a mainsection and d1vergent sections, a switch for connecting the main section with either of the divergent sections, auxiliary means to movably support the free end of the switch, the trackway comprising angle strips with the upright portions in spaced parallel relation, and a locking lever mounted at the free end of the switch and adapted to engage between the uprights of the trackway of the divergent sections to lock the switch with relation to a particular divergent section.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

MILO SIMPSON MCMEEKEN. 

